Burnet

Burnet is a Scottish surname that can also be found in England and other parts of the United Kingdom. Various origins have been proposed for the name, including its association with the Old French word burnete, meaning brown or dark brown in colour, or from the Old English word beorn, meaning warrior.

The Burnet family has a long history, with records dating back to the early medieval period in Scotland. The name has various spellings, such as Burnett, Burnette, or Burnat, reflecting the different phonetic interpretations over the centuries.

Notable individuals with the surname Burnet include the Scottish botanist and clergyman Gilbert Burnet (1643–1715), who was involved in various political and religious affairs during the 17th century. Another prominent figure is Sir Thomas Burnet (1635–1715), an English theologian and writer known for his works on cosmology and the history of Earth.

The Burnet surname continues to be present in contemporary British society, with individuals across various professions and regions proudly carrying on this ancestral name.

There are approximately 508 people named Burnet in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around eight in a million people in Britain are named Burnet.

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Scotland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Alan
  • Alexander
  • Andrew
  • David
  • George
  • James
  • John
  • Keith
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Peter
  • Raymond

Female

  • Andrea
  • Catherine
  • Elizabeth
  • Fiona
  • Jennifer
  • Joan
  • Katarina
  • Margaret
  • Maureen
  • Patricia
  • Rebecca
  • Ruth
  • Sarah
  • Susan
  • Vivienne

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.